IDs for illegals

When Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, sponsored Senate Bill 67, which would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver license in Colorado, his goal was to increase road and public safety and to strengthen law enforcement, he says.

Despite the bill being killed last week in a state senate committee, Eagle County Sheriff A. J. Johnson agree with Tupa. “We need to deal with this issue,” he says. “If these people are here illegally, we should do something about it, give them some kind of permit that allows them to get a drivers license, get insurance and use their real names. Many are not criminal, but our system somewhat pushes them to be criminals.”

In spite of the sheriffs from Boulder, El Paso, Adams, Summit and Pitkin counties testifying they were in favor of Tupa’s bill, the Senate’s Government, Veterans and Military Relations and Transportation Committee last week killed SB 67 on a 4-3 vote.

“It’s a hypocritical situation in a lot of ways,” Johnson says. “Some legislators say (undocumented immigrants) shouldn’t be allowed because they’re illegal. But, on the other hand, they don’t do anything about them being illegal.”

Senate Bill 67 would have allowed undocumented immigrants to get a Colorado drivers license or a identification card by presenting an individual taxpayer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

“The vote was disappointing, but it wasn’t unexpected taking into account reactions after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,” Tupa says. “It was difficult for the voters to separate the immigration issue from the public safety and law enforcement one. A lot of the supporters for my bill spoke about human rights. I tried to highlight the road safety.”

At a recent meeting by a state sheriffs’ association, Johnson says, about 50 sheriffs showed support for Tupa’s bill.

“We all agreed that this bill was in the best interest of our communities,” he says. “We stop a lot of illegals in Eagle County — because there are a lot of illegals here — so we need to find a solution. If somebody is here illegally, we should start giving them some kind of documents.”

In Eagle County, Johnson says, sheriffs’ deputies pick up several undocumented immigrants for driving while intoxicated who don’t have insurance or a driver license on a weekly basis.

“This compounds their cases and raises their bonds,” Johnson says. “So a lot of them stay in jail.”

Having a driver license with a name and a photo also will make police work safer, he adds.

“There are a lot of people in the valley who drive without licenses and their illegal status prevents them from getting one,” says Rene Martinez of the Hispanic group La Mesa. “This also has an impact on the economy, because a lot of them have jobs and need to commute.”

Some insurance companies will insure foreigners as long as they have a valid driver’s license issued in their country, says James McGalliard, insurance agent with Alpine Insurance in Edwards. The cost, however, is higher.

“We knew it was going o be a tough battle,” Martinez says. “But we will continue to work with the Mexican consulate in Denver to push the issue in the Legislature.”

Tupa, meanwhile, says he’s not giving up on the issue and will keep working with law enforcement.

“The issue is still an important one and we’ll have to find a solution in the future,” he says.

Another bill, Senate Bill 112, which aims in the opposite directions, passed on Feb. 14 on a 5-2 vote. Sponsored by Sen. Ron Teck, R-Grand Junction, would tighten the existing law for issuing IDs and drivers licenses by requiring applicants to show further proof that they’re in the United States legally.

Teck’s argument is that Utah, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee allow people to receive driver’s license without proof they’re legally in the country, and those moving to this state can trade their licenses for Colorado licenses.

he says. “If these people are here illegally, we should do something about it, give them some kind of permit that allows them to get a drivers license, get insurance and use their real names. Many are not criminal, but our system somewhat pushes them to be criminals.”

What BS. What claptrap. Our system somewhat pushes them to be criminals??? What happen to "we are a nation of laws"?

We are in big, big trouble folks.

The "balance" of this newspaper story is interesting. Eight direct quotations from supporters of the legislation and none from opponents, even though the opponents prevailed 4-3. I wonder if the reporter even bothered to talk to anyone who opposed the bill.

Thanks for the ping Sabertooth. I didn't realize they were voting on this already. Sen. Ron Teck is my senator..a Christian man who attends the church I used to go to. Eagle County has a huge problem with illegals. They live in that county and drive to Vail/Aspen to be employed as housekeepers/cooks etc. Big problem here.

I'm glad it got the liberal's bill got voted down. The Sheriff's are probably behind it because they have friends in high places who need illegals working for them; no disbaragement meant to the police, but these are small towns weaving in and around the western slope.

“If these people are here illegally, we should do something about it

Free tickets to Disneyland? How about coupons for 10 percent off on their next case of Budweiser? More food stamps? Free family pictures at the local maternity ward?

undocumented immigrants for driving while intoxicated who don’t have insurance or a driver license on a weekly basis. “This compounds their cases and raises their bonds,” Johnson says. “So a lot of them stay in jail.”

Aw shucks! Lord this makes my blood boil--if we citizens didn't have a drivers license or insurance, our butts would be in jail until we found someone who could afford to bond US out. I frankly don't know anyone who could afford to bond me out of those kind of charges at the drop of a hat.

If I do something illegal, like fail to pay my taxes, will I be rewarded?

More likely I will be thrown in jail and my property would be confiscated. It must be nice to be able to break our law and have nothing happen to you.

I lived in Denver, CO for 3 1/2 years and worked for the state government. It's hard to figure out the mind-set there. I think most native Coloradans are pretty conservative. But, the state has a lot of migrants from other states.

While I worked for the Colorado Dept. of Health, I was the only conservative in my department. I had to listen to the liberals I worked with go on and on, day in and day out about how we mean-spirited conservatives were opposed to giving our country away. Trust me when I say it was a very hostile work environment--maybe I should have sued someone--eh?

“If these people are here illegally, we should do something about it, give them some kind of permit that allows them to get a drivers license, get insurance and use their real names. Many are not criminal, but our system somewhat pushes them to be criminals.

What a novel idea. These folks did something illegal only because our system's laws made their actions illegal.

Just how long will it take for some enterprising attorney to mount a defense for, let's say a burglary charge, by claiming that his client would not be guilty if it wasn't for our laws. Therefore the the system is at fault and the guilty party. I'll try to use that logic next time I get a speeding ticket. "Your honor, I wouldn't be guilty of speeding if it wasn't for the stupid law and that stupid radar and that stupid officer. They're the ones at fault" ;-)

"Your honor, I wouldn't be guilty of speeding if it wasn't for the stupid law and that stupid radar and that stupid officer.

Hey, I really like that. Of course, you and I would be so far back in jail they would have to pump sunshine to us, unless of course we had enough money to buy the prosecutor and the judge.

Do I sound cynical here?--I'm sorry--NOT!

Is this guy really Barney Fife come back to life?

Andy: "Now Barney, Ah want yew to go out and solve this here undocumented problem".

Barney: "Well Hey Aindee, I got the solution! If they're Un-Documented, let's give 'em some documents!"

Sounds like the Sherriff has been hitting the evidence room in the Narco division.

Giving illegal aliens a license is no guarantee that they'll buy car insurance or buy enough insurance.

Everyone should buy the uninsured or underinsured motorist rider. Insurance companies should be lobbied to offer a policy rider that will cover family members, when walking, riding their bikes, scooters, skates, etc., that are struck by illegal aliens or anyone else driving without insurance.

Then our government should announce that all illegal aliens have until the end of summer to sell everything they don't want to take with them and return to their home countries. Any illegal aliens apprehended after that date forfeit everything. Every last dime.

Many thanks for the article, although it just gives me more immigration heartburn. =)

“There are a lot of people in the valley who drive without licenses and their illegal status prevents them from getting one,” says Rene Martinez of the Hispanic group La Mesa. “This also has an impact on the economy, because a lot of them have jobs and need to commute.”

Nearly every article I've read about illegals (NOT "undocumented"), and there seems to be more and more of them, always seems to have some commentary from "advocates" like Martinez, or "support groups" like "La Mesa". When is the government going to CRACK DOWN on these individuals and groups for AIDING and ABETTING illegal immigration???

I'm not going to hold my breath.

Here in Minneapolis, we had an illegal driving a van kill some people while driving, and I can tell you, a driver's license is NOT going to make people safer on the roads. This illegal ran from the scene, on foot no less, and hasn't been apprehended. His buddies who were in the van pretended only to speak spanish, to help him get away. The driver fled back to Mexico, and will probably be back in the states in a month or so when the heat dies down. This happened in December, and guaranteed he was probably unlicensed, and uninsured.

All Illegals need to be rounded up and deported, no matter how important their place in American Society.

What happen to "we are a nation of laws"?

Yeah, I heard President Bush tell chinese students on TV tonight that "we are a nation of laws." He also said "no one was above the law." He certainly could not of been referring to our immigration laws and his proposed amnesty, regularization or guest-worker for illegal aliens.

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